Thursday, April 30, 2015

The April Winner is!

This months winner of a free painting is announced . Hooray for the giveaway day! The next free painting giveaway day is May 30th. Tell your friends to enter because you already have. Here is how they can join  in

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Murky is good thing when it comes to neutrals

This is an 18x24 exploration with neutrals or "Murky" colors.
I am not sure if it is done or not.
Tomorrow will be finishing touches and then moving on. Nothing can become precious.


Finished! I pushed the color up a bit.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Searching For

I call this one Searching For. It is 18x24 inches. I think I managed to guide it in for a safe landing. I stand by this painting. It can be found here

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Peony Twins

This is a real statement piece it is 18x24 unframed. I am ready for peony season. painting full out. Peony Twins
Things I have explored for months are starting to come together. This is an exciting time to see what comes next. I never know but I know I will be there.

What I have learned so far:
If you give up too soon you can not reap the rewards of hard work.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Two portraits to share

I was contacted yesterday and asked to paint a special  Mom and Dad. So I got "busy with it" and here they are.
These were super fun to do. I think the peonies and pet friends are feeling like second class citizens at the moment as they wait for my attention.

Monday, April 20, 2015

The Man on the Street

I call this one the Man on the Street. It is this weeks challenge at the Daily Paintworks. It can be found here
The challenge was to keep the figure in the front darker than anything in the background. That was tricky but I think I accomplished the goal.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Tess in the Hood






I completed two small paintings of my niece Tess. She is a great subject because she is willing  and because that blond hair and light coloring let me play with darker shapes to enhance the planes of her face.
The next free painting giveaway is on April 30th.
Here is a reminder of that in peony form

Friday, April 17, 2015

Two for the road

Two more peony paintings that I think went really well. This first one is a 9x12 inch one and the second is 10by 14.
And just as a reminder the monthly free painting giveaways are still happening. The next giveaway day is April 30th
If you are receiving this blog post you are automatically entered each month.
Now it is on to other projects....

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Tulip Times


Tulip times 
I have learned so much about layering and backgrounds this week. That is an exciting development. Tulip Time

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Simple folds


Simple Folds 
7.9x7.9 
watercolor 
I found the simple folds in this white peony today. 
I also finished all the paintings of girls on the beach.
So far this is what my board looks like this week.


Monday, April 13, 2015

Turning to you


I call this one Turning to You . 
9x12 inches 
watercolor 
This can be found on my website in the peony section.

Bathing Beauties

This is the last of my bathing beauties. I had fun painting them over the last four days.To see more click here.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Rainbow girl


Rainbow Girl 
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
matted 12x12 inches 
This painting can be purchased HERE

These paintings are painted with three colors. Alizarin Crimson, Ultra Marine Blue and Aureolin. It is amazing that you can mix the whole rainbow and many many neutrals with these three basic colors. The key is that they are primary colors. I suppose any three primaries could do this but I find these three work nicely.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Queen of the world


Queen of the World 
watercolor 
10x7 inches 
Thank you to Marilyn Bush for letting me use the pictures of your grand daughters on the beach. This is another three color painting. I am enjoying using the limited color choices. It slows me down and makes for a more strategic approach. 
This painting can be purchased HERE

A strong woman in the making. 

Friday, April 10, 2015

Expectations


Expectations 
7.9x7.9 
matted 12x12 inches 

This is a watercolor using three colors. Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Aureolin. The fun is to mix every color and every neutral from those three colors. The result is a cohesive color chord.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Spring light on tulips


Spring light on tulips 
7.9x7.9 
matted 12x12 inches
 
I finally got the whites to be consistently darker in the shadows than in the direct sunlight and inserted one value more before the white of paper and that created the intense white light I wanted to capture. 
Tricky? No? ...Yes! 

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Time Companions


Time companions 
watercolor 
7.9x7.9 
matted 
12x12 
This one is all about the body language and the neutral colors to create a mood. I think it is about love. Not new love and not even middle age love but the love of the ages...long time love.


Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Peony Delight

This is a 12x16 inch peony delight. I am working on my negative painting. This was pure fun.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Three things at once

This is my board so far this week.


Here is the reason why. I am powered by cake the breakfast of champions. This one is covered in roses and is so pretty.

Tomorrow I plan to get serious.

 I will finish this peony the third thing that is keeping me working at a pretty fast pace.
But I am done for this day.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

A Collie Boy

This collie boy makes me happy. His owner has allowed me to paint him as often as I wish and I plan many more . He is a super model of dog. This painting can be found  HERE

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Sherbert Peony Revised

I revised this from yesterday. I needed to make the value range larger. Yes and yes.
This painting can be found HERE

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Sherbert Peony


Sherbert Peony
10by 14 inches 
This day was interesting. I had high hopes. This is the third of three peonies I tried today. The challenge it to simplify the forms into a cohesive structure. I would not take "no " for an answer.
What I have learned so far?
It is important to incorporate both hard and soft edges. Feel for the balance. Breathe and paint, breathe and paint.